High levels of radiation damage lymphocytes, cells heavily involved in maintaining the immune system; this damage contributes to the lowered immunity experienced by astronauts.
Radiation damage to tissue and/or organs depends on the dose of radiation received, or the absorbed dose which is expressed in a unit called the gray (Gy).
Disclosed in the present invention is new use of saturated amine compounds for use in preparing medicines to resist radiation damage and promoting regeneration and repair of radiation-damaged tissues.
The DNA codes for some 25,000 genes that coordinate all functions in each cell, and unless the radiation damage affecting a gene (or group of genes) is repaired correctly, the cell may die.
Another factor that might mitigate radiation damage is a phenomenon called hormesis – a biphasic dose-response relationship in which something such as a toxic heavy metal or ionizing radiation that is harmful at moderate to high doses may actually produce adaptive beneficial effects at low doses.
Concerning environmental fears for Antarctica, The Canberra Times newspaper reports: “Research by scientists at Palmer Station, a United States scientific base on Anvers Island, shows high ultraviolet radiation damages lower forms of life such as plankton and molluscs and could start working its way up the food chain.”